Device for removal of tar and other deleterious substances from tobacco smoke



Oct. 4, 1960 H. A. LEBERT 2,954,777

DEVICE FOR REMOVAL OF TAR AND OTHER DELETERIOUS SUBSTANCES FROM TOBACCO SMOKE Filed Dec. 23, 1957 United States Patent 2,954,771 DEVICE FOR REMovAL F TAR oTiiEIi DELETERIOUS SUBSTANCES FROM TOBACCO SMOKE V Herbert A. Lehert, Millbrae, Calif., assignor to Mac- Farland, Aveyard & Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Dec. '23, 1957, Ser. No. 704,406

4 Claims. (Cl. 131-184) This invention relates to the removal of tar and other deleterious substances from tobacco smoke and particularly to an orifice and impingement barrier combination for the removal of tars, resins, and other harmful substances in the smoke. In the following description, such harmful substances will be referred to for convenience as tars.

In the past, many devices have been proposed for the treatment of tobacco Smoke and for the elimination of portions or fractions of component parts of the smoke therefrom. The removal of tars has posed a serious problem because of their known harmful effects to health. Screens and orifice-equipped disks have been proposed, .the effective opening for the flow of smoke being quite .minute, but while some tar is removed in the operaltlOIl of such devices, a satisfying flow of smoke is not .obtained. Furthermore, a sufiicient proportion of the tars are not removed.

The present structure or tar filter device fundamentally dlfif$ from previous types of tar filter devices by obtain- ;ing tar separation by means of providing a structure .adapted to cause tar separation by impingement of high 'velocity tar ladened smoke against an impingement Ebarrier. Tests tend to indicate the present new techznique is far more effective than any previously known :tar filtering device in effectively removing tars and es- ;pecially the moredangerous high temperature tars from rtobacco smoke while at the same time enabling the :smoker to obtain a pleasurable smoke without a hard draw.

The results of research by independent experts in this ifield tend to indicate that the tars extracted from the Ilower temperature-burning ranges (560 to 720 C.) prot due few or no cancers. The number of cancers increased sharply through the use of tar taken from tobacco burniing from the higher temperature ranges (720-880 C.). '.Tests. have also. shown that a cigarette burns between :-800 to 880 C. so that the more dangerous high temqperature tars are presently being inhaled by the cigarette smokers. (See Time magazine, April 22, 1957, page 50.)

Early experiments indicate that where the velocity expansion cooling principle is used to obtain tar separation, a relatively low percentage of the high tempera- .ture tars are separated out of the smoke as opposed to :the use of the instant relationship involving high velocity tobacco Smoke impingement without expansion 'Wherein a relatively high percentage of high temperature :tars are separated. I

In the application of this new technique, manufacturing advantages are present since structures of this @type are far. more compact than those using the velocityexpansion principle where a relatively large chamber is required for condensing the smoke.

It has been found that there is a practical dimensional :range with regard to the size of the orifice and its distance from the barrier. If the orifice is too small the :smoker is inconvenienced through his difi'iculty in drawing the smoke through the device, and if the orifice is ice too large, the velocity of the smoke passing through the device is reduced in a manner whereby the percentage of tar separation is materially reduced. If the gap between the orifice and the barrier is too great or too small the percentage of tar separation or the rate of tar flow is adversely effected. In this respect, the impingement barrier is almost in contact with the orifice with there being just enough clearance to allow the formed relatively viscous tar to flow out of the path of the tar subsequently formed. There is no expansion space or condensing surface as in the above patents required here for tar separation from the smoke.

By using an orifice with a .028" to .030" diameter and a distance between the impingement barrier and the orifice of to 1 the best results are obtainable.-

In other words, by constructing a device incorporating the above dimensional range, the smoker may have a more pleasurable easy draw smoke with the high percentage removal of the tars including the more dangerous high temperature tar. Early tests of structures utilizing this principle tend to indicate that at least 40% of the tars may be removed. This 40% representing almost of the high temperature tars, while the low temperature aromatic fractions of the smoke are passed on to the smoker.

Accordingly, a very important object of the present invention is to provide means for the tar removal from tobacco smoke through the use of an impingement barrier employed at a spaced and effective distance from a Venturi orifice or a small orifice which causes the smoke to flow at a sufiicient velocity to cause separation of the tar as the smoke strikes the impingement barrier.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multipart cigarette structure having novel means for separating tars including a high percentage of high temperature tars from tobacco smoke while at the same time allowing the smoke to be drawn through the cigarette holder without great difficulty enabling a smoker to obtain a pleasurable smoke without the danger attendant with the drawing of the high temperature tars into the body and lungs of the smoker.

Another object of this invention is to providea multipart cigarette holder structure which is easy to clean by readily separating the parts, and which structure may be' manufactured on a large production basis at an economical cost.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a high simplified two part mouth piece structure having novel means to effect tar separation from tobacco smoke.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a highly compact structure for separating the tar from tobacco smoke.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel structure for separating and collecting the tar from tobacco smoke and for removing the collected tar from the structure.

Other objects and features of the present invention will more fully become apparent in view of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating therein a single embodiment, and in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a multi-part cigarette holder structure carrying a cigarette in which the holder structure has tar separation structure according to the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line II-II on Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view similar to Figure 2 and illustrating the manner in whichthe, collected tar may be forcefully ejected from the holder against the cigarette butt while contemporaneously partially ejecting the butt to facilitate its removal from the holder; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line'IV'IV on Figure'3 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

In the drawings:

The reference numeral designates generally my multi-part cigarette holder and filter structure which sup ports a cigarette 111 at one end thereof. The structure 10 includes a mouthpiece 12, and a tube or sleeve 13. The mouthpiece and the sleeve may be made from any suitable materials although I havefound that excellent results may be attained through the manufacture of the mouthpiece 12 from a suitable plastic, such as thermoplastic, a suitable composition, or any suitable material. The outer sleeve or tube 13 may be manufactured from metal or from plastics, or from any other suitable material.

The mouthpiece 12 and the tubular sleeve have areas of variable cross-sectional thickness or peripheral surface diameters with the smaller diametered surfaces or areas indicated at 12a, 13a and with the larger diametered surfaces indicated at 12b, 13b. At the junction of the areas are annular shoulders 12c and 130 which shoulders are normally in longitudinally confronting relation with a portion indicated at 12d comprising a tar impingement barrier. The surfaces 12a, 13b, and shoulders 12c and 13c define an annular cleansed smoke collection chamber 15 which chamber also stores the impinged tar.

Extending longitudinally of the mouthpiece is a main passageway 16. Extending radially outwardly of the main passageway is a cleansed smoke channel or passageway 17 which communicates the main passageway 16 with the smoke collection chamber 15. Extending radially and axially inwardly from the barrier 12d is a reduced uncleansed passageway 18. At the terminal end of the mouthpiece, the mouthpiece is dished longitudinally toward the main passageway 16 defining a concavcly configuratcd cavity or uncleansed smoke collection area 19. V

The uncleansed smoke collection area 19 is bounded at its periphery by an annular shoulder 20 which is where the butt end of the cigarette abuts maintaining the cigarette longitudinally spaced from the reduced passageway 18. I

At the end of the reduced passageway 18 adjacent to but spaced from the impingement barrier 12d is a discharge orifice llSa through which high velocity smoke passes. Thus, upon a suction force being applied at the mouth end of the mouthpiece 12, smoke is drawn through the cigarette 11, through the smoke collection area 19,

through the reduced passageway 18 and the orifice l18a whereupon the tar ladened smoke strikes the impingement barrier 12d and tar particles are separated at this juncture from the smoke with the substantially tar free smoke being collected in the smoke collection chamber 15. As the smoke is collected in the chamber 15 the smoke is drawn through the channel or passageway :17 and then out through the main passageway 16 into the smokers mouth.

As heretofore stated, the problem presented has been one of providing sufiicient smoke flow to satisfy the smoker while at the same time removing thedeleterious tars, etc. In the structure of the present invention, this result is achieved by employing an impingement barrier in combination with an orifice which greatly increases the velocity of the smoke stream so that when the stream strikes the barrier, the tar is lodged and collected upon the peripheral surface of the barrier and. in the chamber area 15 and the resulting purified smoke alters its course through the passageway 17 and passes on to the smoker through the mouthpiece. While there will be variations in the size of the orifice, and in the spacingof thebarrier of 0.030 .0007 square inch), which gives excellent tar removal and ease of drawing.

The critical orifice size is correlated with the impingement barrier which is located as close as possible to the orifice or Venturi outlet consistent with the free flowing of the collected tars; e.g,, without impairing the flowing of the tar away from the point of impingement. In practice, I have found that a satisfactory range is a distance of to 7 of an inch, or about .030 to .187 of an inch. A still more satisfactory range lies between to M of an inch. A preferred distance is .030 of an inch. In the specific example referred to, the barrier is spaced from the orifice outlet by of an inch (.030 inch), or approximately the orifice diameter.

The operation resulting from thestructure shown herein is in contrast to the operation of cooling devices heretofore employed with cigarettes. Such cooling devices bring about a peripheral cooling of the smoke but allow substantial core portions of the tars to pass on to the smoker. In my structure, the entire cross section of the smoke stream is subject to the action of the impingement barrier so that the tars and other harmful particles are removed by the foregoing high velocity impingement action upon the barrier.

The slight spacing between the outlet of the orifice and the barrier enables the smoke stream to reach the barrier with substantially undiminished speed, while at the same time enabling the purified smoke to change direction or, in the case of a barrier formed of fiber, etc.,

7 to pass through the filter, whereas tar fractions, by reaisused the total square inch area should fall within the range given- Ofzczourse, the velocity will vary considerablywith different smokers and with cigarettes of varying degrees of density. By spacing the barrier close to the outlet of the orifice, the attained high velocity is effective in lodging the tar fractions directly upon the barrier wall where an impervious barrier is employed, and further, such high velocity is effective, in the case of the solid barrier wall, in moving the viscous tar along the barrier face to an unobstructing position in the sump or reservoir space. The space between orifice outlet and impingement barrier may be from 0.01 to 0.187. In the preferred structure, the spacing is about .030.

Collected tars T may be removed fom the chamber area 15 about the impingement barrier and from the mouthpiece, sleeve or holder assembly by sliding the shoulders 12c and into abutting engagement causing the tars T to be forced at a considerable velocity back through the reduced passageway 18 with .the result that the tar Tis impinged on the tobacco of the butt end of the smoked cigarette or the filter tip if such is used. This relative movement also axially displaces the cig: arette butt in closer proximity to the flared end of the sleeve to allow'ready removal of the butt. Thus upon removal ofthe smoked cigarette butt from the holder assembly, the holder assembly is left in relatively tar free condition. The tar will not be forced into the channel or passageway 17, assuming the holder, is cleaned regularly, sincethe channel 17 isfspaced from the reduced passageway 18 and further since the channel 17 communicates with the chamber 15 in longitudinally spaced relation to the ,orifice 18a.

The mouthpiece 1'2 and the tubular sleeve 13 may be assembled by engaging the end of the sleeve at the area of annular rib 21 against the reduced surface 12a. The mouthpiece and the sleeve are then moved longitudinally relative to one another with the rib 21 being flexed over the annular shoulder 12c and guided along the enlarged surface 12b until the rib 21 is locked in groove 22 on the mouthpiece. At this juncture, the reduced surfaces 12a and 13a are in abutting relation, and the enlarged surfaces 12b and 13b are also in abutting relation.

For removing the collected tars, the rib 21 is disengaged from the groove 22 and the shoulders 12c and 13c are brought together in the manner described above. The tubular sleeve may be removed by pulling the sleeve longitudinally away from the mouthpiece 12. The cigarette butt may be removed either with or without removing the sleeve from the mouthpiece.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a smokable article holder including a mouthpiece having a front end structure providing a socket receptive of the butt end of a smokable article, the mouthpiece having a longitudinal passage extending from its rear end to a front end closure, the periphery of the front end portion of the mouthpiece having a recess, said front end structure including a member on the outside of said front end portion covering the recess and therewith providing a tar collection chamber, said front end portion being provided with a passageway connecting said chamber and said longitudinal passage, a smoke passageway in said mouthpiece front end portion extending from said socket and constituting at its downstream discharge end a smoke-accelerating orifice opening into said chamber, one of the walls of the chamber constituting an impingement barrier in confronting spaced relation to said orifice for tar-removal impingement thereagainst of smoke issuing from said orifice, the smoke then moving on within the chamber into said connecting passageway and then into said longitudinal passage, said member being movable in opposite directions relative to the mouthpiece and having a portion operable upon movement of the member in one relative direction to close said connecting passageway and substantially contract said chamber whereby to force accumulated tars from the chamber out through said orifice and said smoke passageway onto the butt end of the cigarette, relative movement of said member in the opposite direction being operative to shift said portion of the member to open said connecting passageway and expand said chamber.

2. A smokable article holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said member comprises an elongated sleeve which has a front end portion providing said socket and a rear end portion encircling the outside of said front end portion of the mouthpiece, and said first mentioned portion of the member being on the inner periphery of the member.

3. A smokable article holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said member comprises an elongated sleeve which has a front end portion providing said socket and a rear end portion encircling the outside of said front end portion of the mouthpiece, said relative movement being longitudinal, said recess being a longitudinal reduced diameter annular area running out at the forward end of the mouthpiece and defined by a forwardly facing shoulder at the rear end of the reduced diameter area, said first mentioned portion of the member comprising an annular inside wall area of the sleeve of complementary diameter and slidably engaging said reduced diameter area and defined by a rearwardly facing shoulder opposing said mouthpiece shoulder with a substantial length of the sleeve extending rearwardly beyond the sleeve shoulder in slidable engagement about the mouthpiece and carrying means engageable with complementary means on the mouthpiece to retain the sleeve releasably in the position wherein said chamber is expanded.

4. A smokable article holder as defined in claim 1, wherein said orifice is of .0005 to .001 sq. in. cross-sectional flow area and said impingement barrier is spaced from the discharge end of the orifice a distance of about .030 to .187 inch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Feb. 13, 1933 

